European Youth Championship 2024 Report

The European Youth Championship 2024, hosted in Malmö, Sweden, presented a significant opportunity for Scotland’s young table tennis players to gain international exposure. Bringing together top talent from across Europe, the tournament was marked by Scotland’s promising performances and valuable learning experiences. Here’s a detailed overview of Scotland’s journey through the championship:

Teams

• Junior Boys Team: Gavin Yuan, Kieran Walker, Harry Blackhall, Jamie Johnson
• Junior Girls Team: Megan Mulhern, Amelia Smolarek, Shannon Brown
• Cadet Boys Team: Joe Mulhern, Rory Thomson
• Cadet Girls Team: Maja Wojcicka, Kiishi Adekola
• NPCs: Callum Riddoch, Cameron Hussain, Paula Callaghan.

Team Events

Junior Boys

The junior boys team demonstrated notable resilience throughout the competition. Facing strong teams like England and Luxembourg, Scotland encountered tough matches and significant losses. However, they bounced back with a decisive 3-1 victory over Wales. Advancing to the second placement group, Scotland secured wins against Greenland (3-0), Azerbaijan (3-1), and Iceland (3-1). Gavin Yuan played a key role, winning all five of his singles matches, supported by strong performances from his teammates. This collective effort led the team to a first-place finish in the group. In the final group stage for positions 29–32, Scotland faced a close 3-2 loss to Estonia, ultimately finishing 32nd out of 41 teams, which was a commendable outcome given the competition.

Cadet Boys

The Cadet Boys team approached the championship with enthusiasm and focus. They faced strong opponents such as Bulgaria and Spain but achieved a significant 3-1 victory over Iceland. Joe Mulhern’s standout win against Bulgaria’s Viktor Dimitrov, ranked 107 in Europe, was a notable highlight. In the second group stage, Scotland secured victories over Cyprus (3-1) and Latvia (3-2), with teammate Rory Thomson showing his passion in the crucial last game against Latvia to secure the victory. In the final group stage, Scotland faced tough matches against Ireland and Lithuania. They experienced a 3-1 loss to Ireland, though Joe Mulhern’s impressive win over Ireland’s top junior, Vincent Ni (ranked 186 in Europe), was a standout achievement. The team also had a challenging match against Lithuania, resulting in a 3-0 defeat. Despite these tough encounters, Joe Mulhern’s remarkable performance, winning 8 out of 12 singles matches in the team event, was a key highlight. Scotland’s 31st-place finish out of 38 teams marked a significant improvement from previous years and underscored the progress made.

Junior Girls

The Junior Girls team, consisting of Megan Mulhern, Amelia Smolarek, and Shannon Brown, faced strong competition but embraced the experience with enthusiasm. They demonstrated excellent teamwork and fought hard throughout the tournament. Despite encountering tough matches, the team’s perseverance and unity were clearly evident, highlighting their dedication and sportsmanship. Paula Callaghan, a well-capped Scottish player with valuable experience in the event as a player, managed the team well in her first time as a coach at the EYC.

Cadet Girls

The Cadet Girls team, featuring Maja Wojcicka and Kiishi Adekola, displayed outstanding resilience and skill throughout the tournament. Their determination culminated in two exceptional victories: a dominant 3-0 win against the Netherlands and a commanding 3-0 victory over Norway. These impressive results showcased their abilities and demonstrated their readiness for future challenges. Maja’s victory over Bulgaria’s Denitsa Zhivkova, ranked 230 in Europe, and Kiishi’s win against Switzerland’s Enya Hu, ranked 28th in the U15 category, were also notable achievements. The team’s final placement of 29th out of 33 reflected an impressive debut performance at their first European Youth Championship.

Singles and doubles competitions

In the individual and doubles competitions, Scotland’s players showcased their abilities and gained important experience. Kiishi Adekola, Joe Mulhern, and Gavin Yuan impressed by advancing from their groups in their respective age categories. Gavin Yuan progressed from a challenging group stage, advancing on countback after a win against Greece’s Alexandros Alexopoulos. Joe Mulhern secured a notable victory over a Latvian player, and Kiishi Adekola advanced with a win against a Slovakian opponent. The knockout stages presented tough challenges, with Joe losing 4-1 to Belgium’s Matt Closset and Gavin losing 4-0 to Spain’s Francesc Carrera. Kiishi Adekola (Cadet Girls) advanced to the Round of 64, having received a bye in the Round of 128. Unfortunately, Kiishi was unable to compete in the Round of 64 due to the team’s flight schedule.

In the doubles event, Shannon Brown and her Irish partner Anjali Singh delivered a strong performance by defeating the Scottish pair of Amelia Smolarek and Megan Mulhern 3-2 in the junior girls’ doubles qualification round. Brown and Singh then faced the top seeds from Germany and Romania, losing 3-0. The Scottish duo of Gavin Yuan and Kieran Walker excelled in their qualification doubles round, winning 3-0 against a Maltese pair. They faced a strong Slovenian team in the round of 64 and lost 3-0 but had chances throughout the match. In mixed doubles, Gavin Yuan partnered with Danish player Emma Eckeroth, advancing through their qualification round before narrowly losing 11-9 in the fifth set to a Lithuanian pair in the round of 128.

Player Reflections

Kiishi Adekola shared her thoughts on the tournament: “Going to the EYC in Malmö, Sweden, was a great experience, and it was at the top of the tournaments I have attended so far. I enjoyed getting to play lots of matches with varied styles and playing against some of the best players in Europe. The atmosphere and environment were great, and there was lots of time to cool down and mingle with other players from different countries. I must say that Scotland had the best coaches ever!!! They were truly amazing. I would love to go to EYC again!”

The European Youth Championship 2024 provided Scotland’s young players with a valuable platform to gain international experience and compete against some of Europe’s top table tennis talents. The Scotland team held themselves high and fought hard, gaining valuable experience. As the players return to Scotland, they bring with them enhanced skills and insights that will benefit their development.